The true art of memory is the art of attention.

Real popular culture is folk art - coalminers' songs and so forth.

Critics are the men who have failed in literature and art.

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.

Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.

A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.

Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.

If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don't write, because our culture has no use for it.

Every actor in his heart believes everything bad that's printed about him.

Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends.

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.

I passionately hate the idea of being with it, I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time.

A great poet is the most precious jewel of a nation.

I think another thing is that we don't really want exclusivity. We accept that it is in the artist's interest to be on sale in every place where they sell music.

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

Art is never finished, only abandoned.

Every work of art is an uncommitted crime.

We're not trying to change the world; just music.

I'm very happy to hear that my work inspires writers and painters. It's the most beautiful compliment, the greatest reward. Art should always be an exchange.

Artistic temperament is a disease that afflicts amateurs.

Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.